Toshiba has closed down its US processor subsidiary, EE Times has reported.

The company, Artile Microsystems, was formed two years ago to offer system-on-a-chip devices derived from the PlayStation 2's Emotion Engine CPU, itself jointly developed by Toshiba and Sony.

Artile's gameplan was to partner with manufacturers of embedded systems to design custom SoCs. Toshiba would handle the fabrication of the chips.

The strategy seems not to have paid off, and now Artile's projects and assets have been folded into Toshiba's TX Risc business, the company said in a statement. The TX operation produces SoCs in its own right and is keen to expand that part of its business. ®